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Tick species (Acari: Ixodida) in Antalya City, Turkey: species diversity and seasonal activity

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Abstract

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are an important group of ectoparasites of vertebrates. Most species are known vectors of diseases including Lyme disease, Q fever, and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever. A 3-year research was conducted in Antalya, Turkey, to determine tick species composition, seasonal abundance, and spatial distribution. The study was carried out in five districts (Aksu, Dosemealtı, Kepez, Konyaaltı, and Muratpasa) of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality area in Turkey, between May 2010 and May 2013, where 1393 tick specimens were collected from domestic and wild animals (cattle, goats, sheep, hedgehogs, tortoises, dogs, cats, chickens) and from the environment. The collected ticks were preserved in 70 % alcohol and then were identified. Five genus and eight hard and soft tick species were identified, including Argas persicus, Rhipicephalus annulatus, R. sanguineus, R. turanicus, Hyalomma aegyptium, H. marginatum, Haemaphysalis parva, and Dermacentor niveus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, and H. aegyptium were the most common tick species in Antalya city. Rhipicephalus turanicus and R. sanguineus were the most abundant tick species infesting dogs in the city. The hosts of H. aegyptium are primarily tortoises in Antalya. The results of this research will contribute to establishing appropriate measures to control tick infestations on animals and humans and their environment in the city of Antalya.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the Scientific Projects Administration Unit of Akdeniz University (Antalya, Turkey) for financial support (Project Number: 2011.02.0121.046). The authors would like to thank Res. Asst. Emre OZ and the municipality pest control workers for assistance during the field studies.

Conflict of interest

We certify that there is no conflict of interest regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Akdeniz University, 07070, Antalya, Turkey

    Samed Koc & Huseyin Cetin

  2. Veterinary Faculty, Department of Parasitology, Uludag University, 16059, Gorukle, Turkey

    Levent Aydın

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  1. Samed Koc
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  2. Levent Aydın
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  3. Huseyin Cetin
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Correspondence to Samed Koc.

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Koc, S., Aydın, L. & Cetin, H. Tick species (Acari: Ixodida) in Antalya City, Turkey: species diversity and seasonal activity. Parasitol Res 114, 2581–2586 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4462-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4462-7

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